669小说网

第39部分（第1页）

questions；　Anne　answered　them。　It　was　much　as　she　had　been　told　to

expect；　straightforward　questions　so　innocuous　that　she　was　actually

feeling　a　sense　of　security。

Then　the　door　opened　quietly　and　Simmons　client　slipped　into　the　room。

The　lawyer　said；　〃For　the　record；　this　is　the　President　of　SEAA；

Mitchell　D。　Anderson；　Jr。〃

The　only　thing　Anne　could　even　begin　to　appreciate　was　that　all　eyes　in

the　room　were　momentarily　somewhere　else。　She　felt　her　color　drain　and

her　stomach　twist；　felt　a　shaking；　then　shock；　pure　shock。

It　was　Mitch。　Wearing　an　immaculately　tailored　blue　suit。　Groomed

impeccably。　Tall；　well…built；　and　handsome。　Hair　neatly　brushed；　jaw

firm　and　confident；　eyes　looking　everywhere　but　at　her。

It　was　Mitch。　Head　of　the　airline　that　she　was　suing。　What　had　he　said；

that　he　had　〃other　interests〃　beside　real　estate？　When　she　had　prodded；

he　evaded　her。　Then　he　had　known　all　along？　Had　he　planned　the　whole

thing？　How　naive　she　had　been！

She　fought　a　rising　nausea　when　he　crossed　the　room　and　took　a　seat

beside　his　lawyer；　who　proceeded　to　introduce　him　to　the　others　in　the

room。　When　her　name　was　given；　he　nodded　politely；　for　all　indications　a

total　stranger　meeting　her　for　the　first　time。

The　situation　was　so　unreal；　so　horrific；　that　she　actually　distanced

herself　and　found　the　strength　to　go　on。　Her　voice　was　more　unsteady；

and　she　didnt　dare　take　a　drink　of　water　lest　her　trembling　hand　spill

it；　but　she　managed。　She　kept　her　eyes　on　the　lawyer；　pletely

blotting　out　the　man　to　his　right。

When　did　she　meet　Jeff？　How　long　had　she　known　him　before　their

marriage？　How　long　had　they　been　married？　Where　did　his　family　live？

Her　family？　How　many　members　in　each？

The　questions　grew　more　personal。　What　had　Jeff　done　for　a　living？

How　long　had　he　done　it？　Annual　ine？　Rising　or　steady？　Did　their

parents　help　them　financially？　Did　they　travel？　How　often　and　where　to？

How　much　rent　did　she　pay　each　month？

Had　Anne　been　herself；　she　would　have　been　annoyed　with　the　questions。

When；　after　an　hour　of　questions；　they　took　a　short　break；　her　lawyer

explained；　〃He　has　to　establish　a　lifestyle。　He　needs　to　determine　the

way　you　live　in　order　to　estimate　the　value　of　your　loss。〃

〃I　lost　Jeff！　How　do　you　put　a　dollar　sign　on　that？〃

The　lawyer　shrugged；　and　when　they　returned　to　the　table；　Anne　was　on

the　hot　seat　again。　Had　she　loved　her　husband？　Had　they　been　faithful　to

one　another？　What　had　she　done　when　he　was　away　on　business？